taylor



Y Re. 15,754l F. T.. TAYLOR CONVEYING` HEGHANISII Feb. s 192.4,

Original' Filed Jan. 30 1919 6 Sheets-,Sheet l 9 ,d ffy/10,

Feb. s .1924. Re. 15,1547

F. T. TAYLOR` CONVEYING MEGHANISI Original Filed Jan. 30 1919 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 y M @nM F. T. TAYLOR CONVEYING MECHANISM Feb. 5, 1924. v Re. 15,754

Original Filed Jari. so. 1919 s sheets-'sheet s Re. 15,754- F. 'T. TAYLOR CONVEYING MECHANISM Feb. 5 1924.

Original Filed Jan. 30 1919- 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Feb. 5 1924.

F. T. TAYLOR CONVEYING MEGHAMSM Original Filed Jan. so. 1919 e sheetssneet-s- Re. l 5,

' F. T. TAYLOR CONVEYING MECHANISM 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Original Filed Jan.

Reuma Feb. s, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FLOYD T. TAYLOR, F HATAWAN, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGKOR TO A. P. RUNNING & CO., OF NEWARK. NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

CONVEYING micnamsir.

Original No. 1,382,144, dated June 91,1921, Serial I-lo. 274,113, led January 30, 1919. Application for l `reillue led April 13, 1923. Serial No. 631,921.

To all 'w'wm it may concem:

Be it known that I, Fnorn T; TAYLOR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Matawan, in the county of Monmouth and State 6 of New Jersey, have invented new and useful Im rovements in Conveying Mechanism, of Y which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to conveying Amechanism. l

It is particularly adapted for the transportation of articles or material through a plurality of receptacles for differentl treatments, and for transferring the articles or material from one receptacle to the succeeding receptacle although it may be advantageously em loyed in various other fields.

t is desira le in many industries, such for example as those of electro-plating, galvanizing, etc., to subject the articles or material to several successive treatments, which may require different periods of time to produce the best results. t is often advantageous, if not absolutely necessary, especially 1n large industrial lants to carry the articles or ma- 25 terial contmuously forward during the progress of these various treatments. Itis also desirable in many instances to produce a itation of the treatment ingredients to facl itate their action upon the articles or mause and labor and a more regularly uni:

orm product will also result ifthe transfer of material through the rece tacles and from receptacle to receptacle canlbe accomplished part automatica y. l A

An object 'of this invention is to provide an improved conveying mechanism for automatically transporting articles or material.'

ing of the articles or material being transpo ,l Another object is to provide an improved facilitatin terial treated. Considerable saving in exb mechanism o ratin either wholl or in y le g y vpendent co Vmay be. arranged conveying mechanism by which the material is automatically passed through treatment receptacles.

Another object is to provide improved mechanism `forY readily transferring the articles or material from one receptacle to Another object -is to providel mechanism for automatically carrying the material through substantially the entire length of sage ofmaterial over any section and roln section to section may be readily regulated. Another object is to provide improved conveying mechanism for transferringl articles fromone receptacle tol another and the drainm of the articles.

Other o 'ects and a vantages of the invention wil hereinafter appear:

The accompanying drawings illustrate an i embodiment of the invention particularly adapted for the automatic conveyin of material through n series of receptac es, such as tanks or vats and for transferring the material from one tank or vat to another.l A single conveyer may be provided foi-'several receptacles or the material ma be transported throgh each receptacle y an inde which may beso timed that the Vperiod of transportation corres nds to the period of proper treatment. e material is then automatically. delivered to transfer vmecha-- nism by which it is moved from one conveyer section to another; This transfer may be either automaticall or manuallyl controlled as desired. e `conve er sections to pass t e material through receptacles where it .is subjected to eyer section, the operation of' different treatments, or one or more of the sections may be in the form of delivery mechanism or any: desired location for packing, storage,

transporting the material to -upon a tank or vat.

Fig. 2 is a plan of .the conveying mechanism showing two tanks or vats arranged in loigitudinal alinement.

1 ig. 3 is an enlarged end elevation of the mechanism forV transferring the material from tank to tank, the lifting apparatus bei shown in its normal position.

ig. .4 is an enlarged end elevation of the transfer mechanism, the apparatus being shown in its elevated position- 5 is an enlarged side elevation show'- ing t e arrangement for two tanks in longitudinal alinement, the elevating mechanism being shwn in bothv a depressed and an elevated position.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged end view partly in section of a conveyer section for transporting the material through a tank.

Figs. 7, 8,V 9 and 10 are details of the transfer mechanism.

Fig. 11 is' a side elevation showing the mechanism arranged. to pas the material through"j a series of treatments.

Fig. 12 is a plan of an arrangement for. successive treatments, illustrating how the mechanism can be adapted to meet special space conditions.

Fig. 13 shows a modified arrangement for sta'ting the material in a conveyerr section,

14,15 and 16 show m for facilitating the draining of the articles or material.

The conveyingv mechanism comprises one ormore conveyer sections A for ing the material through the various treat- Vment receptacles or tanks andV transfer mechanisms B for transferring the-material from 'one conveyer section to another. The conveyersectionsmay be arranged in any desired relative position to accommodate peculiarities in accommodations or 'service conditions, as will be hereinafter more fully he conveyer Maana-The conveyer for A rting :the material to be Vilell' various receptacles will first be described.

Each receptacle, as shown, is inthe nform of a tank or vat 5, in which'tlie material lis with the denedY by providing .sprocket Wheels or pulleys are carried by Lshafts 8 journaled in bearings in suitable mounting brackets 9. Brackets 9 are fastened to the sides of tank 5 'and are provided with? angle supports 10 upon which a track is mounted for supporting the material as itis carried forward. The track is in the form of a U-shaped channel 11, shown above and extending throughout the greater portion of the length ofthe tank midway between its sides.

The'materialto be treated may be carried by suitable racks 12, each of which is provided with aV hanger having oppositely disposed hooks 13 and 14. One of these hooksl extends over the top of channel 11, as most clearly shown in VFig.-6, allowing the rack 12 and the material carried thereby to be freely supported in the solution. -The other hook is adapted to be engaged by the transfer mechanism when the material is to be transferred from one conveyer section to another. One hook only may be used but two hooks, one for suspension on the track ioo and one for co-operation with the transfer mechanism, are preferred as there is' less likelihood of conflict and uncertainty of operation. The chain or belt 6 has a number of projecting lugs 15 adapted to extend into channel` 11 to engage the hooks on the racks Vto slide the racks and material along the track when'the belt or chain is in motion. The top of vtrack 11 is provided with notches 16, so that, as the racks are pushed along they are also caused to move up and down to increase the agitation of the solu-V tion.-

In order to facilitate 'the delivery of the material from a 'conveyer section to the transfer mechanism, the rear .end lof track Y11 is given an upward curve 17, to the uptension 20 provided with an extensible A an upwardlyV inclined .extension 20 of track 11 at the receiving of theY section. The outer end of .ex-

track section 21, which is connectedV by a pin-and-slot 22 to a lever 23. Lever 23 ls pivoted to asuitable bracket 24 mounted on the tank and is provided at its upper end with a lroller 25 to be engaged by a part of `the transfer mechanism to project the extension 21 into lthe path of one of the rack hooks, as will be hereinafter explained.

Movement is imparted to the belt from any suitable source of wer through a friction belt pulleyl 30. ulley by a journaled bracket 31 sup rted upon tank 5 near the end thereof. e shaft of pulley has a universal joint 32, which sup orte one end'of ashort shaft 33. Shaft 33 as a worm 34 adapted to normally enage a worm wheel 35 carried by a fixed haft 36. Worm wheel 35 carries a sprocket wheel 37 around which passes a chain 38. Chain 38 drives a sprocket wheel 39, which is carried by a shaft 40 journaled in brackets 41 and 42 mounted upon tank 5. Shaft 40 has a, worm 43, which enga wheel 44 carried by a shaft 45 to which a sprocket wheel 46 is secured. Sprocket wheel 46 drives a chain 47, which also passes over a sprocket wheel 48 carried by one of the shafts 8. A hand nut.` 49 controls the action of clutch member' 50 internally engaging belt pulley 3,0.4 Rotation of pulley 30, w en worm 34 and wheel 35 are in engagement, causes forward movement of belt 6 and the racks and material moved thereb and thus the material is continuously a vanced through the solution in the'treatment tank 5. Y Buckets or other suitable containers having the nry hooks or loops for embracing the channel-11 may be employed instead Y of carrying the material on racks, and if the articles themselves are provided with suitably projecting hooks, loops or other means,

for suspension from the channel 11 no supcarriers or containers are necessary.

he lugs or projections 15 may be so spaced that the material on the racks or other carriers will not interfere with each other during their passage through a tank. The speed of t e belt 6 may be so timed, by the selection of r worms and gears, that the time requl *,to'pass the material through atank will coi-'respond to the period of time during which the particular treatmentshould continue. If the treatment requires the passage of an electric current through the material andthe solutionthe channel 11 may be ,used as one of the electrodes,the other suitabl placed in the tank.` T trangver mecaamLs'm..-'I`hev transfer mechanism whereby the material is moved f,from tank to tank, will next be described.

This apparatus comprises an elevating and low plunger 53 slidably and rotatably guided'm collars 54 and 55 and a guideway 56. 'lhe e collars and guideway form part 30 is carried VIl. WOI'IIIy .bearings supported by bracket 57. To elevate worm 34 the end of 'shaft 33k is suprted b a pivo'ted end-bearing 60 carried E; a be -crank lever 61. Bell-crank lever 61 is pivoted to 'anextending lug 62 of 'bracket 57. Worm wheel 58 has a collar 65 provided with an arm 66 upon `which is journaled a belt pulley 67. A second belt pulley 68 is journaledv to an extension 169 of bracket 57. A belt 70 has one end anchoredlto the outerv end of lever 61 and passes over pulleys 67 and 68, its other end being fastened to a suitable projection 71,

operated Y extending froma plunger support 72. The

lower end of `elevating plun r 53 rests in a. suitable socket in support 2 in.. which it is lfree to rotate. Support 72 has a pair of guide keys 73, which travel in the grooves of guideway 56 to prevent the support from rotatin y f -It will thus be apparent that if worm wheel 58 is driven by worm 34, the arm 66 will rotate, carrying with it ulley 67. This movement of pulley 67 will? since one end of belt 70 is anchored to lever 61 and the other end is fastened to the movable plunger support 72, raise plunger 53 a distance approximately equal to the diameter of the circle described by the outer belt surface .of pulley 67. The end of the belt fastened to lever 61 has only a very limited movement because, when the worm 34 and worm whee ered, delivering its load to the next conveyer section, and is finally rotated back to its initial position, ready to receive a new load. These movements are accomplished by providing plunger 53`throughout aportaon of its length with a double groove' having two vertical portions 75 and 76. interconnected.E at the top and `bottom respectively by two spiral portions 77 and 78. A key 79 carried by collar 55 of the bracket 57 extends` into this groove. As lon asthe ve is straight and longitudlnal of plunger 53, the rotation of arm 66 and pulley 67 merely elevates or lowers the plunger. The inter-f connecting spiral portions, however, permit any desired amount pf rotation to be imparted to the plunger. In the embodiment illustrated 1n detail, the transfer of material is between two tanks in longitudithe upward portion of its nal alinement and the plunger must therefore be turned anti-clockwise 180 degrees and then back the same amount. This is ac.- complished by cutting each of the interconnectin' spiraled groove sections 7 T and 7 plunger 53, as clearly shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10. The upper end vof the vertical portion 76 is extended slightly above the intersection 'of the interconnecting rtion 77, as shown at in Fig. 8l Int e normal or depressed position of plunger 53, key 79 lies nearly at Vthe end of extension 80. If arm 66 and pulley 67 are rotated with the mechanism in its `initial position, plunger 53 is first elevated, since key 79 remains in the vertical portions 80` and 76 of rthe groove. Then, as the lower spiral portion 78 of the groovefreaches key 79, the plunger is given a combined anti-clockwise rotaryV and slightly upward movement, reaching the position shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 2. These movements of plunger 53 take 'place while the arm 66 is executing travel. As the arm 66 begins to descend in its arc of movement, due to the continued rotation 'of gear wheel 58, the-distance between pulleys 67 and 68 is gradually reduced and plunger 53 descends lin its turned position, because key 79 isnowf-inthvertical portion 75 of the groove. 'Ihezphinger' continues to descend until the spiral portion 77 thereof reaches key 79, whereupon the plunger is moved back to its initlal position by a combined downward movement.

clockwise rotary an Just before the pulley 67 reaches its lower position and when key 79 lis almost at the end of groove extension 80, the downward movement of the plunger 53 is arrested, as will be hereinafter ex lained. This allows belt '70 to slacken, an the weight of shaft 33 and worm 34 causes the outer end of the shaft to fall until it is arrested by worm 34 re-engaging worm wheel 35. V The p ower is thus removed from gear '58,l its rotation ceases, and the transfer mechanism is again brought to rest in position to receive the next rack of material.

The means employed to reciprocate and rotate the. plunger are in operative engat Y ment during a complete cycle of movement bined Lthe racks of the upw of the latter. In the embodiment o'f'the invention shown A in the drawin a cycle of movement of the plunger wou d comprise an elevation, a combined anti-clockwise rotation and slightly upward movement, a downward movement and finally a. comclockwise rotation and downward movement.

' Plunger equipped atits top 4with a collar-85 carrying an arm 86 for picking up f i tiglsteri'al by'their hooks and trans erringm` fromone conve r Secdiemen 8 aroun half of the circumference of' the tension ofrspring 95, lthe neceary weight `ation of thel elevating mechanism is us and downward movements of the plunger. Collar is also provided with an arm 87, which has a shoe 88, adapted to engage the roller 25 of lever 23 when plunger -53 hasv moved downward a predetermined distance 70 inits turned position. T his engagement tilts lever 23 and causes it to move the track extension 21 outwardly;

`as shown by the dotted lines of Fig. 5.

this position extension 2l is in the path of 75 that rack hook whichr is now hangin on transfer arm 86. The rack is removed is'rom the transfer mechanism and moves down the inclined portion of the track of the next conveyer section by. the force of 30 gravity.

lVlien the transfer from tank to tank is to be completely automatic, a counter-balance /device, such as a4 spring 95, placedl arougnd plunger 53 above collar 54, is em- 85 ployed. This spring is of such a 1 and strength that when plunger 53 descends, collar 85 thereon engages the spring and the desient is arrested just lbefore pulley 67 reaches its lower position: The continued rotation of pulley 67 slackens `belt 70 to such an extent that the wormr34: and gear 58 are disengaged and the elevating mechanism brought to "rest, as hereinbefore de scribed. When, however, the next rack of material is delivered by belt 6, the additional weight further slightly depresses plunger 53 against the tenslon of spring 95. This movement issuicient to tension belt 70 and rock lever 61 to cause re-engagement of lo worm 34 and gear 58. Thereafter Suilicient tension is maintained in belt 70 to keep worm 34 and gear 58 in mesh durin the rotation of arm 66 and pulley 67 and the movements of plunger 53 until the plunger is arrested 105 by spring 95. The cycle of operations is thus automatically repeated each time a, new rack of material is delivered to the arm 86. TheV operation Vof the elevating mechanism is, therefore, timed to take place between the arrivals of material thereto. It will also be noted that when the operation of the elevating mechanism begins, by the rocking of 1ever 61, 'to cause the engagement of worm 34- and gear 58, the engagement of worm 34 and 115 ar 35 is broken. The conveyer section 1s, therefore, stopped when the succeeding transfer mechanism is performing its function. Thus, a rack of material will not be l delivered to the delivery end of a conve er section until the arm of fthe transfer mec a- Y nism is there to Vreceive it. y r

In case the weight of the material is in-v y suilicient to depress the plunger 53, against may be added to the racks, or the racks ma be made heavy enough'to require 1roV addltional weight to cause them to start the'ele vatmg mechamsm 1n operat1on. V The o rso automatically synchronized with the operation of the conveyer, and since it operates only when material is delivered thereto, it does not consume unneceury power by useless movements.

If the operation of the transfer mechanism is to be semi-automatic, the downward movement of plunger '53 is positively.

stopped by so relating collars 54 and 85 that they engage just before pulley 67 reaches vits lower position. The spring 95 may then be dispensed with. Thus, when collars 54 and 85 engage, the mechanism is stopped in its normal receiving position, as previously described, but 'the weight of a rac of material cannot further depress the plunger, and the worm 34 and gear .wheel 58 are not thrown into mesh to cause the, 'rack to be automatically transferred. The

transfer operation is-then started by manuall de ressing the'outer end of lever 6 1, eit er irectl or by pullin belt 70. The lever" 61 is t us rocked am? gear wheel 58 thrown into mesh.' The tension immediately put upon belt 70 by the I rotation of arm 66 and pulley 67 prevents the worm and gear from separating. lVorm 34 and worin wheel 35 are also thrown out ofl mesh, as before, and the conveyer stops. The naterial is elevated, moved around to the proper position for thenext tank, deliveredto the conveyer of that tank, and the transfer mechanism returned to its normal position, where it remains until the lever 61 is again manually rocked.

If desired, the elevating mechanism can be made s' entirely manual in its operation by securing lever 61 in its normal or inoperative position by removable stops 96. A crank may then be mounted on shaft 59 and the elevatin mechanismA will operate only when and so ong as the crank is turned. Of

course, theentire conveying ,mechanism may be hand o rated b rep acing the power pulley y a suita le crank. Summary of operation-To summarize briefly, the o ration of the conveying mechanism is as ollows:

The material is transported, in spaced relation, through one receptacle by the endless conveyer 6 and is delivered at intervals thereby to the arm 86 of the transfer mechanism. The addedV weight ofthe' ma.- terial slightly depresses plunger 53, tensioni ing belt 0 to move lever 61. The rocking of lever 61 causes Vthe disengagement of rotating worm, 34 and worm wheel 35, Stopping the belt 6. It also causes the engagement of worm 34 and worm wheel 58, by

which ulley 67 is carried in the arc of a circle a ut shaft 59. This rotation of pulley 67 first raises plunger 53, which, because of the interengagement of the plunger groove and key 79 rotates at the proper time to position arm 86 over the next conveyer.

worm 34 and The, further rotation of pulley 67 causes plunger 53 and arm 86 to be lowered art way, where the material is removed rom the transfer arm through the action of lever 87 rocking lever 23 to project track extension 21 -into the ath of one ofthe material rack hooks. e lowering. of the plunger continues, and when the upper s ira groove section reaches `key 79 the p r and arm are rotated back to initial position. v Movement of the lunger then ceas until the arrival of e next rack pivoted trip 97 may be extended within crank lever 99 is in a position to be engaged Y by some part associated with the elevating mechanism, such as a stud `100 projecting from the extension 71 of plunger support 72. When the plungerhas nearly reached the up r limit of its travel, 'stud 100 en- .gages 1s operated through trlp rod 98 to `release a rack'of material. With this arrangement, any elevatin mechanism may control the starting of t e material in any tank or `in any number of tanks.

In Fig. 11 the last elevating mechanism is shown controlling ll-crank lever 99, andthe trip -97 the trips of the three preceding conveyer sections.

Instead of having the release of the materialto a conveyer controlled by one of the transfer mechanisms, a conveyer section itself may release the racks at the desired l intervals. Fig. 13 shows how this may be accomplished. A pivoted trip 105 project-4 ing into the channeled vtrack engages' the racks and stops them. Trip 105 has acam 106 for engagement byv lugs 107 carried by the' conveyer chain6. These lugs may be positioned along the chain as desired and when they ride over cam 106 the trip lever is rocked to release the rack which it may be holding. l

Suitable projections 110 may be placed in the tanks to strike the material and cause it to'be slightly moved upon the .suspending racksin Vorder to insure the entire surface of the material being treated. Thus no rtion of the surface of the material will'.

continuously covered by the supporting portion of a rack during a treatment. y

Where hollow articles are to be treated by solutions, it is often desirable to suspend them `from a rack through apertures im their surfaces When raised from the 'so-v transferred to facilitate the draining there-- of. Figs. 14 to 16 illustrate one Way in which this turning may be accomplished. lThe racks are provided with bearings 111 in which material suspending shafts 112 are rotatably supported. These shafts are each provided with a pinion 113 positioned to engage a stationary rack 114 mounted on the end of a tank. The articles are suspended in the solution with their apertures up, as shown in Fig. 14. As plunger 53 and arm 86 of the transfer mechanism are elevated, pinion 113 engages rack 114. The shaft A112 is thereupon rotated as the ascent continues and the articles are turned upside down, as shown at the top of Figs. 15 and 16.

conveying mechanism such as hereinbefore described will be found especially useful in 'such industrial processes as elec-` troplating, where the material is usually successively subjected to treatment of ,acid solutions for removing oxides, alkaline solutions to neutralize the acids or remove rease, and plating solutionspto provide the desired coatings. With thisia paratus the treatments may be automatica y, and thus systematically, carried on with minimum waste and expenditure of time and labor. The material passing continuously through the treatment solutions agitates the solutions v and thus insures more uniform results in a elevating plunger, so that t e its transfer from receptacle minimum of time. ,The conveyers may be operated slowly while the transfer mechanlsm'may be so geared that the material is transferred very rapidly from receptacle to receptacle so as not to expose the material unduly to the air during treatment. On the other hand, should the occasion require, the material may be passed rapidly through some receptacles and slowly-through others and slowly or rapidly transferred between receptacles, as desired. The conveyers and transfer mechanisms are all independent 'so far as speed is concerned, being readily regulated by the choice of gears. Y

While the receptacles chosen to illustrate the features ofthe mechanism tanks or vats particularl adapted for treatments by liquids, it will be readily understood that the receptacles may be either wholly or partly inclosed for treatment by gases or vapors. Any desired amount of rotation may be imparted to the material in Y to receptacle by the proper spiraling of the o ove in the receptacles may be laced at any desired an le to each other. hus, in the embodiment illustrated in detail, where the receptacles are in 1011- are openv gitudinal `alinement, the spiraled portions of the groove are extended around half of the circumference of the plunger. If. it is desired to lace the receptacles at right angles to eac other, the groove will bespiraled at each end around a quarter of the circumference of the lunger. The receptacles may be arranged) so that the material will take any desired path in undergoing its successive treatments and the available space may be utilized to the best advantage by the proper choice of spiraling of the plunger grooves in the transfer mechanism. Fig. l2 gives a plan of a lay-out to carry material in one generaldirection and Asubject it to nine successive treatments. The directions of the travel of the material are indicated by the arrows and the angle of rotation of each of the transfer plungers 1s given.

The last conve er, instead of passing the material throng a treatment receptacle, may convey'it to a loading platform, packing bench or stora e space, thus reduclng the amount of-hand ing required.

Of course, it will bereadily understood that parts which have been shown as mounted upon or supported by the receptacles may be mounted independently thereof if' desired and that many modifications may be made in the structure and arrangement illustrated vention.

What I claim is:

1. A conveying mechanism having a, plurality of independently movable conveyers adapted to transport material in different receptacles, and mechanism operable independently for intermittently transferring the material from one conveyer to another.

'2. A conve ing mechanism having a plurality of independently movable conveyer sections each adapted to transport material in a. different receptacle, and transfer mechanism-operable independently for intermittently shifting the material from lone conveyer section to another, arranged between the delivery and receiving ends of the adjacent conveyers.

3. In a conveying mechanism the combination of a pluralityof independently movable conveyer sections movable in a horizontal lane and adapted to transport material in different receptacles, transfer mechanism for shifting the material from one conveyer section to another at a speed' which may dif-4 fer, from that of the conveyer sections, and means co-operating with the transfer mechanism controlling the movement of one of said sections.

4. A conveying mechanism having a plurality of independent endless .horizontal conveyers for transporting material in any, desired relative direction, transfer mechanism adapted to remove the material from --Without departing from the spirit of the inone conveyer and transfer the same to another conveyer at a predetermined angle to the first, and means 'co-operating with the transfer mechanism for stopping one of said conveyers vduring the transfer of the material'.

5. In a conveying mechanism the combination with a plurality of independently movable conveyer sections for transporting material, of mechanism for transferring the material from one conveyer section to another at any predetermined speed, and means co-operating with the transfer mechanism controlling the movement of one of said sections whereby the conveyer sections and traisfer mechanism are alternately actuate 6. A conve ing mechanism having a plurality of in ependently movable conveyer sections for transporting material through a series of treatments, and vertically movable transfer mechanism for removing the material from one conveyer section and de- I livering it to another conveyer at any predetermined angle to the first and at any predetermined speed. l

7. A conveying mechanism for moving material comprislng 4a series of independently movable vconveyers adapted toA be disposed in different angular relations, a transer mechanism between the ends of adjacent conveyers for moving the material from one conveyer to another, and a Vcommon drive member for alternately driving the conveyer and the transfer mechanisms.

8, A convey'ng mechanism for moving material comprising a conveyer section, transfer mechanism for removing the ma- I 4terial from said section, a drive member for said section and transfer mechanism, and means for successively establishing ,a driving connection therewith, so that the conve er section is stationary when the trans er mechanism is lfunctioning.

9. A conveying mechanism havingr Va conveyer for moving material, a track for supporting the material during such' movement,

and transfer mechanism normally stationary for removing the material from said track,

'said transfer mechanism functioning'automatically upon arrival of material thereto.

10. .A conveying mechanism for subjecting material to a series of treatments having a plurality of independently movable conveyer sectlons for transporting the material through the various treatments. and transfer mechanism for ,removing the material from the conveyer section for'one treatment and delivering the material to the conveyer section for another treatment automatically upon the arrival of material to be 'transferred, said conveyer and transfer mechanism beingA alternately driven by a'com mon member.

11. A conveyer mechanism having a pluother, said mechanism having a plunger carrier for moving the material from section to section, and means automatically controlled by' the'material for controlling said carrier and one of s aid conveyer sections.

13. In a conveying mechanlsm the combination of a plurality of independently movable conveyer sections adapted to transport material, and transfer mechanism normally stationary for removing material from one conveyer section and lifting, rotating and delivering the material to another conveyer section, said conveyer and transferl mechanism being actuated successively bya common driving member.

14. A conveyer'mechanism having a plurality of independently movable conveyer sections for transporting material, transfer means normally stationary for receiving the material from one section, and mechanism for operating said means to transfer materia-l from one section to another, and kthen return to normal receiving position relative to the first section.

15. A conveyer mechanism having a plurality of conveyer sections for transportin material, a plunger, an arm carried thereby for carrying the material from one section, and `means automatically controlled by the material for operatingsaid plunger to transfer the mate-rial to another section, and' to control the movement of one of said sections.

16. In a conve ing mechanism, a plunger, means carried y the said plunger and adapted to transfer material from one position to another, Land means adapted to elevate and rotate'the said plunger at the same time, the said elevating androtating means 'being in operative engagement during a complete cycle -of movement of the said plunger. y

17. In a conveying mechanism, a plunger provided with a. groove, means carried by the said plunger and adapted to transfer lil) material from one positlon to another,

ment of the sai move material from the said conveyer, means adapted to operate either the said conveyer or the said transfer mechanism, and means adapted to, selectively place the said operating means into operative engage- 'ment with the said conveyer and the said transfer mechanism.

19. In a conveying mechanism, a plunger,

'means carried by the said plunger and adapted to transfer material from one position to another, and meansV adapted to engage the said plunger to elevate and rotate the latter at the same time, the said elevating and rotating means being in operative engagement during a complete cycle of movement of the'said plunger.

20. In a conveying mechanism, a plunger, means carried vby the said plunger and Y adapted to transfer material from one posimeans adapted to reciprocate the said.

plunger,y and means adapted to engage the said groove and rotate the said plunger a predetermined amount during the reciprocation of the said plunger, the saidireciprocating means bein in operative engagement duringva comp ete cycle of movement of the said plunger.

22. A conveying mechanism comprising a conveyer section, transfer mechanism for removing material from said section, a source o power common to said section and said mechanism, and means under the control of said mechanism for alternately eonnecting said source to said section and said mechanism so that both are not in operation atthe same time.

23. A conveying mechanism comprising a conveyer section for transporting material, transfer mechanism for removing the material from saids'tition, a source of power, and means automatically brought into action by the arrival of material to said mechanism for connecting said Source to said mechanism for removing the material and disconnecting said source from said section to prevent the delivery of may terial to said mechanism while the same is in operation.

24. A conveying mechanism comprising a plurality. of independently movable conveyer sections -for transporting material transfer mechanism between each pair of sections to transfer the material from one plunger,

section to another, V'and means associated with the transfer mechanism for controlling the operation of any section.

25. A conveying mechanism comprising a conveyer 'section for transporting material, transfer mechanism associated with said section for removing the material therefrom, and means associated with said mechanism Yfor tiltingv the material to facilitate the draining thereof.

26. In a conveying mechanism the combinationl with a plurality of independently movable conveyer sections adapted to trans- 'port material, of transfer mechanism having an arm for carrying the material from one section to another, an elevating plunger associated with and adapted to move said arm, mechanism operatively, associated with said plunger for raising and loweri said arm, means associated with said p unger for rotating said arm through a predetermined angle.during the raising ofsaid and means for automatically starting and stopping said mechanism and one of the conveyer sections in accordance with the delivery of material to said arm. 27. An electro-plating apparatus comprising a work holder for articles to be plated, conveyin mechanism for moving the said work ho der along a tank, and reciprocating means adapted to engage the said work holder at the delivery end of the said tank and to disconnect the said Work holder from the said conve-ying mechanism and to raise it substantially vertically abovev the said tank and to advance it toward and to lower it into an adjacent tank, the said work holderV being adapted to drop from the delivery end ofthe said conveyor into engagement with the said reciprocating means.

28. An electro-plating apparatus comprising a work holder for articles'to be plated, a conve ing mechanism to move the Work holder a ong a 'tank` a member for engaging the work holder at the delivery ,end of the tank to'. raise the same and then lower it outside the tank, thesaid Work holder being adapted Ato drop from the delivery end 'of the said conveyer into en'- gagementwith the said member, and reciprocatory means for supporting' and impelling said member.

l29. In a conveying apparatus, a conve er :adapted to carry an article, a Vmem r adapted to engage the said article at the delivery end o the said conveyer and to elevate the said article, and means adapted to actuate the said member, the said article being adapted 15o-drop from the delivery end of the said conveyer into engagement actuating means 'to function.

30: A conveyer having a Work holder t0 carry materia from one position to an- With the said member and to cause thesaid other, a reci rocating member for ment with t e work holder to elevate e same, the said work holder being adapted Y to drop into engagement with the said member operating mechanism for said member an means o member during the reciprocatory movement ing member for engaging the work holder adapted to drop work at the delivery end of the tank vto raise the same, advance it and then lowerl it outside the tank, the said [work holder from the delivery `end I the said conveyin mechanism into engagement with the sai member.

32. An electro-plating apparatus comprisi a work holder for articles` to :be plate a conve ing mechanism to move the liolda :1x1 ink, a lnemier for en t e wor o er at t e elive enaogfuie vtank Ito raise the same and theryn lower -it `outside the tank, and means connected to the mem-ber adapted to be rotated and reciprocated at the same time through a predetermined path.

y 33. In a convcyln mechanism for transi porting materia t rough :a plurality of tanks, means foi-'transferring the material r causing rotation of' veyer, a -work hol from one tank to an adjacent tank com risin 'a member to eng -the materia or hollder therefor, the sai material or holder therefor being ada ted to drop-into engagement with the sai member, and means 1ncluding a longitudinally movable member for elevating, advancing and then lowering the first mentioned member.

34. 'A conve ferring material m one position to another compra member' to engage the material or holiler therefor, means including a reciprocating member for elevating, advancing and then lowering the first mentioned member, the said material or holder therefor being adapted to drop into engage` ment with the said member, and a 4guide for determining the path throgh which said reciprocating member is mov 35. In a conveying apparatus, a voonof hooks, and transfer mechanism for removing the said work holder from the delivery end of the said conveyer, the said mechanism for transl er provlded with a pair conveyor fbeing adapted to engage one .of

the said ho'oks and to dro the said work holder into engagement wit the said transfer mechanism vthrough the other of the said hooks.

In' witnesssubscribed my name.`

FLOYD T. TAYLOR.

whereof, I have hereunto 

